Joburg billing ruling to be challenged

A ruling which would let the City of Johannesburg off the hook for inaccurate and inflated billing faces a court challenge, the Sunday Times reported.

The National Consumer Commission will ask the high court to set aside a ruling made by the National Consumer Tribunal, which cancelled 45 compliance notices which the commission issued to the municipality.

These notices had been issued following complaints about water and electricity bills which had affected thousands of ratepayers since 2010.

According to the commission, the city failed to deliver quality services to consumers and violated their rights to fair, just and reasonable terms and conditions.

But the tribunal found the notices defective and ruled the commission had not followed proper procedures. The commission would however argue to the court that due process was followed.

"We will ask the court to set aside the ruling, as it is not supported by the facts and the law," the paper quoted commissioner Mamodupi Mohlala-Mulaudzi as saying.

Papers would be filed in the next four weeks. City spokesman Gabu Tugwana said the city would defend any legal action.